Communication system

ABSTRACT

A communication system is disclosed in which minimum system information associated with a cell of a radio access network (RAN) is transmitted by a base station. The minimum system information comprises parameters for accessing a cell of the base station, divided into an initial part and a remaining part of the minimum system information. The base station transmits the initial part of the system information via a broadcast channel using a first set of communication resources; transmits information identifying an allocation of at least one further communication resource in a shared channel; and transmits the remaining part of the minimum system information using the at least one further communication resource identified by the allocation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the provision of system resources in acellular or wireless telecommunications network, and particularly butnot exclusively to indexing of physical resource blocks and resourceblock groups for component carriers (cells) that can be broken down intoa number of smaller component carriers. The invention has particular butnot exclusive relevance to wireless telecommunications networksimplemented according to various standards defined by the 3rd GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP). For example, the invention has relevance toLong Term Evolution (LTE) networks, LTE Advanced (LTE-A) networks,related enhancements to and developments of LTE/LTE-A, and to the morerecent development of communication technologies beyond LTE/LTE-A intothe so-called ‘5G’, ‘new radio’ (NR), or ‘NextGen’ technologies.

BACKGROUND ART

Cellular communication networks generally comprise one or more radioaccess networks (RANs) that provide items of user equipment (UEs), in atleast one discrete geographic region (a cell) covered by the RAN, withaccess to the communication network to allow the UEs to communicate withone another and to receive (or provide) one or more communicationservices to one another. The RAN typically comprises a base stationwhich is configured to communicate with the UEs in an associated cellover an air-interface and with communication entities (or ‘functions’)in a core network (usually over a wired interface) in order tofacilitate the set up and maintenance of communication sessions forindividual UEs (e.g. for voice/video calls, data services etc.).

The terms ‘5G’ and ‘new radio’ (NR) refer to an evolving communicationtechnology that is expected to support a variety of applications andservices such as Machine Type Communications (MTC), Internet of Things(IoT) communications, vehicular communications and autonomous cars(V2V/V2X), high resolution video streaming, smart city services, and/orthe like.

3GPP technical report (TR) 23.799 V14.0.0 describes a possiblearchitecture and general procedures for NextGen (5G) systems planned forRelease 14 of the 3GPP standards. 3GPP also studied the potential use offrequency bands up to 100 GHz for new (5G) radio access networks, with amaximum channel bandwidth of 400 MHz per NR carrier in Rel-15.Directional beamforming and massive antenna technologies may also beused in order to overcome the severe channel attenuation characteristicsassociated with certain high frequency bands (e.g. mmWave bands). Theterm ‘massive antenna’ refers to an antenna having a high number ofantenna elements (e.g. 100 or more) arranged in an array. Effectively,such a massive antenna may be used to communicate with several users atthe same time, thus facilitating multi-user multiple-input andmultiple-output (MU-MIMO) transmissions.

Whilst a base station of a 5G/NR communication system is commonlyreferred to as a New Radio Base Station (‘NR-BS’) or as a ‘gNB’ it willbe appreciated that they may be referred to using the term, eNB (or5G/NR cNB) which is more typically associated with LTE base stations. Incase of MU-MIMO, a base station may also be referred to as atransmission and reception point (TRP). The term ‘base station’ will beused herein to refer generally to an NR-BS, gNB, eNB. TRP, or anyequivalent communication device of a RAN.

One of the tasks of the base station is the provision of key informationrequired by UEs to communicate in the cellular communication system,access particular services, and move as seamlessly as possible betweencells of the same and different radio access technologies (RATs). Thisinformation is known as ‘system information’ and includes, amongst otherinformation, minimum system information to allow the UE to access a celland perform cell selection/re-selection (including information relatedto intra-frequency, inter-frequency and inter-RAT cell selections) andother system information that the UE may require in a cell in somecircumstances (i.e. in addition to the minimum system informationrequired to access the cell), for example to access specific services.

Elements of system information are typically grouped into a number ofdedicated system information blocks, depending on the type ofinformation. The blocks include a Master Information Block (MIB)comprising static, generally cell specific information that carries apart of the so-called minimum system information, the so-called ‘RMSI’block which contains any remaining minimum system information (RMSI),and a number of additional system information blocks (SIBs) representinginformation that may be different for different UEs (or groups of UEs)which can be delivered via on-demand request. The MIB contains, forexample, at least a part of the System Frame Number (SFN), timinginformation within the radio frame (e.g. SS block time index, half radioframe timing). RMSI scheduling information, reserved bits for futureuse, and a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) value. The MIB is broadcast onthe Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), while the RMSI and any on-demandSIBs are sent on the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) throughRadio Resource Control (RRC) messages.

3GPP intends to provide one or more TRPs per new radio (NR) base station(i.e. 5G base station, or gNB) and each base station may support up to1000 cells. The expected NR control structure has been presented in 3GPPTR 38.802 V14.0.0, the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference. This technical report describes, amongst others, theprovision of synchronization signal and downlink broadcastsignal/channels (section 6.2.3.1) in order to support initial access bythe UEs (e.g. to a particular cell of the RAN) and mobility.

In summary, the synchronization signal used in NR is based on thecyclic-prefix (CP) orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM)waveform. 3GPP defined a primary synchronisation signal (NR-PSS) and asecondary synchronisation signal (NR-SSS) for NR. NR-PSS is used atleast for initial symbol boundary synchronization to the NR cell, andNR-SSS is used for detection of the NR cell identifier (or at least apart of it). NR-SSS detection is based on the fixed time/frequencyrelationship with NR-PSS resource position at least within a givenfrequency range and CP overhead.

At least one broadcast channel (NR-PBCH) is defined for NR. NR-PBCH is anonscheduled broadcast channel carrying at least a part of the so-calledminimum system information with fixed payload size and periodicitydepending on carrier frequency range. Decoding of the NR-PBCH is basedon the fixed relationship with NR-PSS and/or NR-SSS resource position.

For initial access, the UE can assume a signal corresponding to aspecific, predetermined subcarrier spacing of NR-PSS/SSS in a givenfrequency band (which is known to the UE, e.g. factory configured).NR-PSS uses one antenna port. For NR-PBCH transmission, a single fixednumber of antenna port(s) is supported. The UE assumes the predefinednumerologies for NR-PBCH and NR-SS in a particular frequency range(hence no blind detection of the NR-PBCH transmission is required by theUE). At least a part of the minimum system information (e.g. MIB) istransmitted in the NR-PBCH. NR-PBCH contents include at least a part ofthe SFN, and an associated CRC value. The RMSI is transmitted via theNR-PDSCH.

There are ongoing discussions in the 3GPP RAN1 work group aboutscenarios where the overall network channel bandwidth (a gNB's systembandwidth) can be broken down into a number of smaller componentcarriers (CCs), which may have an effect on the way system information,and specifically, RMSI is provided.

The following is a summary of some of the agreements reached by 3GPPRAN1:

-   -   A component carrier (cell) may simultaneously be operated with a        number of different bandwidths (e.g. for different items of user        equipment). For example, a gNB can operate simultaneously as a        wideband CC for some UEs and as a set of intra-band contiguous        CCs for other UEs. The intra-band contiguous CCs may also be        used with carrier aggregation (CA) in order to dynamically        increase the bandwidth (i.e. by aggregating multiple intra-band        contiguous CCs) for some UEs when needed. It is preferred to        allow zero (or a minimal) guardband between intra-band CCs        within a wideband CC. In case a (non-zero) guardband is provided        between two intra-band CCs, it is preferable to minimise the        number of subcarriers used for the guardband.    -   Single and multiple synchronisation signal locations are allowed        in the wideband CC.    -   For single-carrier operation, the UE is not required to receive        any downlink signals outside the frequency range configured for        that UE. However, an interruption time is needed, during which        no signals are transmitted to the UE, in order to allow for        changing (or moving) the frequency range if appropriate (e.g.        from frequency range ‘A’ to frequency range ‘B’). In this case,        the frequency ranges may have different BWs and/or centre        frequencies.    -   One or multiple bandwidth part configurations for each component        carrier can be semi-statically signalled to the UE (e.g. in RRC        connected mode). Each bandwidth part consists of a group of        contiguous Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs). However, reserved        (or non-useable) resources can be configured within the        bandwidth parts. The bandwidth of a bandwidth part equals to or        is smaller than the maximal bandwidth capability supported by a        UE. The bandwidth of a bandwidth part is at least as large as        the bandwidth of the synchronisation signal block. However, it        is not necessary that all bandwidth parts contain a        synchronisation signal block.    -   Configuration of a bandwidth pan may include the following        properties: a specific numerology (sub-carrier spacing. CP        type), a frequency location (e.g. a centre frequency), a        bandwidth (e.g. number of PRBs) for that bandwidth part.    -   Each UE should expect at least one downlink (DL) bandwidth part        and one uplink (UL) bandwidth part being active among the set of        configured bandwidth parts for a given time instant. A UE is        only assumed to receive/transmit within its active DL/UL,        bandwidth part(s) using the associated numerology. At least the        Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) and/or Physical        Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) are used for DL, and the        Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) and/or Physical Uplink        Shared Channel (PUSCH) are used for UL.    -   The active DL/UL bandwidth part is not assumed to span a        frequency range larger than the DL/UL bandwidth capability of        the UE in a component carrier. Moreover, an appropriate        mechanism needs to be specified for UE radio frequency (RF)        retuning for bandwidth part switching.    -   The same PRB grid structure for a given numerology is assumed to        apply for narrow band ULEs, CA UEs, and wideband UEs within a        wideband NR carrier.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The inventors realised that the above agreements have an impact on thecurrent design of reference signals and also the current Resource BlockGroup (RBG) design and CSI subbands. It is also not currently agreed howto achieve a suitable PRB indexing that takes into account the aboveagreements.

The present invention seeks to provide a communication system andassociated apparatus and methods for meeting or at least partiallyaddressing the above issues. Specifically, the present document providesdetails of some of the ways in which the remaining issues of supportingwider network channel bandwidth (i.e. gNB's system bandwidth) may beachieved in NR systems, and more specifically, how to determine the PRBand RBG indexing in scenarios where the network channel bandwidth cancomprise a number of smaller component carriers.

Solution to Problem

In one aspect, the invention provides a method performed bycommunication apparatus of a radio access network (RAN) of atelecommunication system, the method comprising: controllingtransmission of minimum system information comprising minimum parametersrequired by a user equipment (UE) to access a cell of thetelecommunication system, wherein the minimum system informationcomprises at least an initial part comprising part of said minimumsystem information and a remaining part comprising a remaining part ofthe minimum system information; transmitting at least the initial partof the system information via a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) usinga first set of at least one communication resource; transmittinginformation identifying an allocation of at least one furthercommunication resource; and transmitting at least the remaining part ofthe minimum system information using the at least one furthercommunication resource identified by the allocation.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method performed by acommunication device for obtaining minimum system information comprisingminimum parameters required to access a cell of a radio access network(RAN) of the telecommunication system, wherein the minimum systeminformation comprises at least an initial part comprising part of saidminimum system information and a remaining part comprising a remainingpart of the minimum system information, the method comprising: receivingat least the initial part of the system information via a physicalbroadcast channel (PBCH) using a first set of at least one communicationresource; receiving information identifying an allocation of at leastone further communication resource; and receiving at least the remainingpart of the minimum system information using the at least one furthercommunication resource identified by the allocation.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method performed bycommunication apparatus of a radio access network (RAN) of atelecommunication system, the method comprising: transmitting minimumsystem information comprising minimum parameters required by a userequipment (UE) to access a cell of the telecommunication system, whereinthe minimum system information comprises at least an initial partcomprising part of said minimum system information and a remaining partcomprising a remaining part of the minimum system information; whereinthe minimum system information comprises information identifying thelocation, within a network channel bandwidth of the cell, of at leastone of: a physical broadcast channel (PBCH); and the RMSI.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method performed by acommunication device of a radio access network (RAN) of atelecommunication system, the method comprising: receiving minimumsystem information comprising minimum parameters required to access acell of the telecommunication system, wherein the minimum systeminformation comprises at least an initial part comprising part of saidminimum system information and a remaining part comprising a remainingpart of the minimum system information; wherein the minimum systeminformation comprises information identifying the location, within anetwork channel bandwidth of the cell, of at least one of: a physicalbroadcast channel (PBCH); and the RMSI.

Aspects of the invention extend to associated apparatus and computerprogram products such as computer readable storage media havinginstructions stored thereon which are operable to program a programmableprocessor to carry out a method as described in the aspects andpossibilities set out above or recited in the claims and/or to program asuitably adapted computer to provide the apparatus recited in any of theclaims.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (which term includes theclaims) and/or shown in the drawings may be incorporated in theinvention independently (or in combination with) with any otherdisclosed and/or illustrated features. In particular but withoutlimitation the features of any of the claims dependent from a particularindependent claim may be introduced into that independent claim in anycombination or individually.

Whilst specific hardware apparatus having a specific physical structure(e.g. controllers and transceiver circuitry) have been disclosed forperforming the various procedures described herein, each step of themethods disclosed in the description and/or forming part of the claims,may be implemented by any suitable means for performing that step. Inaccordance with this each method aspect of the invention has acorresponding apparatus aspect comprising respective means forperforming each step of that method aspect.

Example embodiments of the invention will now be described by way ofexample only with reference to the attached figures in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cellular telecommunication system ofa type to which the invention is applicable;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a scenario of supporting smallercomponent carriers within the wideband component carrier used in thesystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of physical apparatus forimplementing user equipment suitable for use in the cellulartelecommunication system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of physical apparatus forimplementing a base station suitable for use in the cellulartelecommunication system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an exemplary way in which RMSIbandwidth may be defined with relation to the PBCH bandwidth in thesystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an exemplary way in which RMSIbandwidth may be defined with relation to the PBCH bandwidth in thesystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates an exemplary way in which the locationof the PBCH may be derived in the cellular telecommunication system ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates an exemplary way in which global RBGindexing may be provided in the cellular telecommunication system ofFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Overview

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cellular telecommunications system 1in which a number of items of user equipment (UEs) 3 such as mobiletelephones, and other fixed or mobile communication devices (e.g. MTCdevices, IoT devices) can communicate with each other via a base station5 and a core network 7 using an appropriate radio access technology(RAT). As those skilled in the art will appreciate, whilst two mobiledevices 3 (denoted ‘UE1’ and ‘UE2’), one MTC device 3 (denoted ‘UE3’),and one base station 5 are shown in FIG. 1 for illustration purposes,the system, when implemented, will typically include other base stationsand UEs.

The base station 5 forms part of a RAN and operates one or moreassociated cell 9 via which the UEs 3 can connect to the cellulartelecommunications system 1. The UEs 3 may connect in the cell 9 byestablishing a radio resource control (RRC) connection with the basestation 5 operating that cell 9.

The base station 5 is connected to the core network 7 for example via anS1 interface and to any other base stations (not shown) for example viaan X2 interface (either directly, or via for example an X2 gateway). Thecore network 7 typically includes logical nodes (or ‘functions’) forsupporting communication in the telecommunication system 1. Typically,for example, the core network 7 of a 5G/NR system will include, amongstother functions, control plane functions, user plane functions and otherfunctions for providing the functionality of a mobility managemententity (MME), a serving gateway (S-GW), a packet data network gateway(P-GW) etc.

In this system the system bandwidth (or ‘wideband CC’) can comprise anumber of smaller component carriers. Therefore, the base station 5 isconfigured to operate its cell 9 simultaneously with multiple componentcarriers, some of which may have a different bandwidth to that of thewideband CC. In this example, which is illustrated in FIG. 2, the basestation 5 simultaneously operates a wideband CC (i.e. a single carrierspanning the entire system bandwidth) at least for some UEs 3, and forother UEs 3 it operates a set of intra-band contiguous CCs (herein ‘CC1’and ‘CC2’) which are effectively carriers within the wideband CC havinga relatively smaller associated bandwidth compared to the systembandwidth.

This arrangement beneficially allows different UEs 3 to transmit andreceive data over an appropriate part of the system bandwidth (e.g. theentire system bandwidth or only a portion thereof) depending on theirneeds and capabilities (as some of the UEs may be equipped withtransceivers that support only a limited bandwidth). For example, asshown in FIG. 2, UE1 is configured to receive or transmit over the wholenetwork channel bandwidth since it is capable of handling a wider RFbandwidth, while UE2 and UE3 use only a part of the channel bandwidthdue to e.g. their limited RF bandwidth and/or their currentcommunication needs/settings. Although not shown, it will be appreciatedthat some UEs may be able to aggregate multiple component carriers(intra-band contiguous CCs with CA), when appropriate. For example, UE2may be able to aggregate CC1 and CC2 (and/or any other CCs, within thesame or in a different cell) when the bandwidth of CC1 is notsufficient. Similarly. UE1 may be able to aggregate the wideband CC andone or more additional CC (e.g. one or more additional cell) when thebandwidth of the wideband CC is not sufficient for that UE.

In order to assist the UEs 3 in finding its cell 9 and to be able toaccess the various CCs, the base station 5 provides system informationin the cell 9. Whilst some system information provided may be requiredby all UEs 3 in the cell 9 and may need to be transmitted (e.g.broadcast) on a relatively regular basis, other system information maynot be required by all UEs 3 in the cell 9 at a given time and/or maynot need to be sent on such a regular basis. Accordingly, the systeminformation is divided conceptually into two different types: minimumsystem information and other system information.

Referring to the minimum system information, the base station 5broadcasts at least some of the minimum system information in its cell9. In this example, the minimum system information includes a subset ofthe information blocks (such as MIB, SIB1, SIB2 and/or the like)carrying at least a part of the minimum set of information elements(e.g. those elements required to support cell selection, acquiring theremaining system information, or accessing the cell). The remainingminimum system information (RMSI) and potentially any other systeminformation can be obtained by the UEs 3 using appropriate mechanisms(e.g. ‘on-demand’ at the request of the UE). For example, UEs 3 in anRRC connected state may use dedicated RRC signalling for the request anddelivery of the RMSI.

Advantageously, in this network 1 the same PRB grid structure is usedfor a given numerology within the wideband CC regardless of the type oroperation of UE 3 (narrow band UE, CA UE, or wideband UE). Someexemplary numerologies are shown in Table I below.

In LTE systems, when a UE decodes the PBCH, the UE can work out the PRBand RBG indexing straight away because the PBCH and synchronisationsignals (i.e. the ‘SS block’) are always located at the centre frequency(i.e. the central 6RBs) of the LTE system bandwidth. On the other hand,in NR systems (e.g. as shown in FIG. 1) the SS block (which correspondsto the location of the NR-PBCH) may not necessarily be at the centrefrequency of the network channel bandwidth.

However, the base station 5 of this system beneficially uses appropriatePRB indexing in order to facilitate acquisition of NR-PBCH and RMSI bythe UEs 3, regardless of how the wideband CC is divided into intra-bandCCs. Thus, based in such a PRB indexing, it is possible to determine theprecise location of a detected SS block within the network channelbandwidth in order for the UEs 3 to be able to determine the associatedresource block (RB) indexing (including the location of referencesignals), derive channel state information (CSI), and obtain systeminformation for the cell 9.

In more detail, during the acquisition of NR-PBCH, these is a relativetime between the NR-PBCH and the position of the synchronisation signals(SS), therefore the location of the NR-PBCH can be determined based onthe position of the SS. In addition, since the number of PRBs carryingthe NR-PBCH is fixed, there is no need for PRB indexing as there is noresource allocation signalling involved at this stage. Accordingly, theUEs 3 are able to obtain at least a part of the minimum systeminformation from the NR-PBCH.

However, during acquisition of the RMSI (transmitted by the base station5 over the NR-PDSCH and/or the NR-PBCH), the number of PRBs that can bescheduled to the RMSI are variable since it depends on the amount ofinformation to be transmitted (and possibly on other factors, such asmodulation being used). Therefore, the base station 5 employs a specialscheme to indicate RMSI scheduling assignments to the UEs 3, based onthe exemplary PRB indexing methods described below.

In summary, in its allocation of resources to the RMSI, the base station5 may employ a bandwidth for the RMSI that is confined within thebandwidth of the NR-PBCH (‘option 1’) or employ a bandwidth for the RMSIthat is larger than the bandwidth of the NR-PBCH (‘option 2’).

In case of both option 1 and option 2, the PRB indexing for RMSI startsfrom the lowest frequency of the NR-PBCH BW, and the granularity of theresource allocation scheme for RMSI scheduling is 1 PRB. In case ofoption 2 (i.e. when the bandwidth of the RMSI is greater than thebandwidth of the decoded NR-PBCH), the difference between the RMSIbandwidth and the NR-PBCH bandwidth (e.g. an offset amount) is given interms of PRBs and the difference is signalled in the NR-PBCH. Thisbeneficially allows the UEs 3 to obtain the location and bandwidth ofthe NR-PBCH (based on the detected SS block) and hence obtain at least apart of the minimum system information, then determine the RMSIbandwidth (which may equal to the NR-PBCH bandwidth or the NR-PBCHbandwidth+an offset) from the NR-PBCH.

When the base station 5 signals an offset value to the UEs 3, thereference point for applying the offset may be either the lowest PRB ofthe NR-PBCH (in which case the offset increases the bandwidth upwardsfrom the highest frequency of the NR-PBCH) or the centre PRB of theNR-PBCH (in which case the offset increases the bandwidth symmetricallyboth downwards from the lowest frequency of the NR-PBCH and upwards fromthe highest frequency of the NR-PBCH). Further details of the operationof the offset are given below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

Beneficially, the RMSI in this system includes information that allowsthe UE 3 to derive the location of the NR-PBCH relative to the networkchannel bandwidth (regardless of which component carrier is used by thatUE 3). Thus, once the UE 3 has decoded the RMSI, it knows the locationof the decoded NR-PBCH within the network channel bandwidth as well asthe size of the network channel bandwidth.

It can be seen therefore that the above system meets the variousrequirements currently agreed for NR base stations that are configuredto operate with multiple component carriers simultaneously (e.g. awideband CC and one or more intra-band CCs within the wideband CC). Theabove solutions make it easier for UEs to access the RAN and/or receivesystem information (e.g. RMSI) via their associated carrier (widebandCC, CC1, CC2).

It will be appreciated that whilst a number of beneficial features aredescribed above, an improved cellular communication system can still berealised even if only a subset (or one) of the beneficial features isemployed.

User Equipment

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the main components of userequipment (such as a mobile telephone) 3 shown in FIG. 1. As shown, theUE 3 has a transceiver circuit 31 that is operable to transmit signalsto and to receive signals from a base station (e.g. a gNB) 5 via one ormore antennae 33. Although not necessarily shown in FIG. 3, the UE 3 mayof course have all the usual functionality of a conventional UE 3 (suchas a user interface 35) and this may be provided by any one or anycombination of hardware, software and firmware, as appropriate. The UE 3has a controller 37 to control the operation of the user equipment 3.

The controller 37 is associated with a memory 39 and is coupled to thetransceiver circuit 31. Software may be pre-installed in the memory 39and/or may be downloaded via the telecommunications network 1 or from aremovable data storage device (RMD), for example.

The controller 37 is configured to control overall operation of the UE 3by, in this example, program instructions or software instructionsstored within the memory 39. As shown, these software instructionsinclude, among other things, an operating system 41, a communicationscontrol module 43 and a system information management module 45.

The communications control module 43 is operable to controlcommunications between the UE 3 and the base station 5. Thecommunications control module 43 also controls the separate flows ofuplink data and control data that are transmitted to the base station 5and the reception of downlink data and control data (including systeminformation) transmitted by the base station 5. The communicationscontrol module 43 is responsible, for example, for managing the UE'spart in idle and connected mode procedures such as cell (re)selection,camping on cells, random access channel (RACH) procedures, etc.

The system information management module 45 is responsible for managingthe listening for, receipt, storage and interpretation of the systeminformation (minimum system information and/or other systeminformation), for deriving appropriate indexing being used in the cell 9of the base station 5 to which the UE 3 is connected (or attempts toconnect). Specifically, the system information management module 45 isresponsible for determining the location of the RMSI within the systembandwidth (for a given CC and/or numerology).

Base Station (gNB)

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the main components of a basestation 5 of the type shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the base station 5includes a transceiver circuit 51 which is operable to transmit signalsto and to receive signals from UEs 3 via one or more antennae 53 andwhich is operable to transmit signals to and to receive signals from thefunctions of the core network 7 via a core network interface 55 and/orother base stations via a base station interface 56. The networkinterface typically comprises an S1 (or S1-like) interface forcommunicating with the core network 7 and an X2 (or X2-like) interfacefor communicating with other base stations. A controller 57 controls theoperation of the transceiver circuit 51 in accordance with softwarestored in the memory 59. The software includes, among other things, anoperating system 61, a communications control module 63 and a systeminformation management module 65. Software may be pre-installed in thememory 59 and/or may be downloaded via the telecommunications network 1or from a removable data storage device (RMD), for example.

The communications control module 63 is operable to controlcommunications between the base station 5 and the UEs 3 and othernetwork entities that are connected to the base station 5. Thecommunications control module 63 also controls the separate flows ofuplink and downlink user traffic and control data (including systeminformation) for the UEs 3 served by the base station 5. Such controldata may also include, for example, control data for managing theoperation of the UEs 3 and for the provision of the RMSI (e.g. PRBscheduling/PRB indexing). The communications control module 63 isresponsible, for example, for controlling procedures such as thecommunication of measurement control/configuration information, systeminformation, the base station's part in random access channel (RACH)procedures, etc.

The system information management module 65 is responsible for managingthe generation of system information (SI) messages carrying appropriatesystem information (minimum system information and/or other systeminformation), for determining whether to transmit a particular piece(block) of system information (to a given UE or UE group), and forproviding an appropriate indexing for the cell 9 of the base station 5for the provision of the system information. The system informationmanagement module 65 is also responsible for allocating appropriateresources for the RMSI within the system bandwidth (for a given CCand/or numerology) such that UEs 3 that need it can obtain it. Suchresources are typically allocated in a broadcast channel (e.g. NR-PBCH)or another shared channel (e.g. NR-PDSCH).

Operation—PRB Indexing During Acquisition of NR-PBCH and RMSI

FIGS. 5 and 6 schematically illustrate exemplary ways in which RMSIbandwidth may be defined with relation to the PBCH bandwidth in thesystem 1 of FIG. 1.

As described above, the SS block that contains the NR-PBCH may notnecessarily be at the centre frequency of the network channel bandwidth(in NR systems). Moreover, there might be multiple component carriersprovided simultaneously within the network channel bandwidth.

The following exemplary mechanism may be used to provide a preciselocation of the detected SS block within the network channel bandwidthin order the UEs to be able to determine the resource block (RB)indexing, generate reference signal (RS) and derive the channel stateinformation (CSI).

Since there is a known (predefined) relative time between the NR-PBCHand the position of the synchronisation signals, the location of theNR-PBCH can be easily determined by the UE 3 once it has detected thesynchronisation signals. In addition, the number of PRBs carrying theNR-PBCH is fixed, so, there is no need for PRB indexing as there is noresource allocation signalling involved at this stage. In other words,the UE 3 is configured to decode the content of the entire NR-PBCH(which will typically include at least a part of the minimum systeminformation).

During the acquisition of the RMSI (i.e. the part of the minimum systeminformation that was not included in the initial NR-PBCH transmission),the number of PRBs that can be scheduled to RMSI can be variable(depending on e.g. the amount of information to be transmitted).Therefore, RMSI scheduling assignments (based on for example PRBindexing) are carried out for handling the resource allocation for theRMSI transmission.

In a first example, the bandwidth of the RMSI (for both control and datasignalling) is confined within the bandwidth of the NR-PBCH. This may bepossible, for example, if the size of the RMSI is relatively small. Inthis case, therefore, the PRBs can be indexed in the order of increasingfrequency-domain (i.e. from the lowest to the highest frequency of theNR-PBCH bandwidth). However, as the UE 3 may not know the networkchannel bandwidth at this phase yet, it is not required to derive theappropriate global PRB and RBG indexing. Thus, any PRB indexing for theRMSI (if provided) is to be interpreted within the set of PRBscorresponding to the NR-PBCH bandwidth (rather than the network channelbandwidth).

In this example, the preferred granularity of the resource allocationscheme for RMSI scheduling is 1 PRB as this does not have an impact onother active UEs in the same cell that are scheduled based on e.g. RBGgranularity. However, it will be appreciated that any other suitablegranularity may be chosen, where appropriate.

In a second example, the bandwidth of the RMSI (for control and datasignalling) can be larger than the bandwidth of the NR-PBCH. In otherwords, in this case the RMSI bandwidth includes (or overlaps with) theset of PRBs corresponding to the NR-PBCH bandwidth and a set ofadditional PRBs (at least one PRB). If the bandwidth required for theRMSI is larger than the bandwidth of the NR-PBCH, then the PRBs can beindexed for example in the order of increasing frequency-domain startingfrom the lowest frequency of the NR-PBCH bandwidth and continuingupward. In this case the lowest PRB of the NR-PBCH bandwidth serves asthe reference point for determining the scheduling of the RMSI. Thus, ifmore resources are needed than the resources corresponding to theNR-PBCH bandwidth, the resource allocation span can simply be increasedfurther upward (as shown in FIG. 5). Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6,with the lowest PRB of the NR-PBCH bandwidth being the reference point,the resource allocation span can be increased in symmetric manner, byextending (by an equal amount) both the lowest and highest PRBs for RMSIscheduling beyond the size of the NR-PBCH bandwidth. Beneficially, theexpanded RMSI bandwidth (e.g. a total bandwidth/total number of PRBs),or at least the amount of increase (e.g. an offset/number of PRBs inaddition to the NR-PBCH bandwidth) can be signalled to the UEs in theNR-PBCH.

In summary, the bandwidth of the RMSI is preferably confined within thebandwidth of the decoded NR-PBCH (at least when the size of the RMSIallows it). In this case, PRB indexing for RMSI may start from thelowest frequency of the NR-PBCH bandwidth, and the granularity of theresource allocation scheme for RMSI scheduling may be 1 PRB. If thebandwidth of the RMSI is increased compared to the bandwidth of thedecoded NR-PBCH (e.g. depending on the size of the RMSI and/or UEcapability), the amount of increase (e.g. an offset) in terms of PRBsmay be signalled to the UEs in the NR-PBCH. This beneficially allowseach UE to determine the appropriate RMSI bandwidth for that UE from theNR-PBCH (wherein the RMSI bandwidth may equal to the NR-PBCH bandwidthor the NR-PBCH bandwidth+an offset). Alternatively, an offset from thelowest PRB index of the channel bandwidth (or bandwidth part) to thelowest PRB index or the centre of the NR-PBCH can be signalled in theNR-PBCH.

Operation—PRB Indexing after UE Decoded the RMSI

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary way for deriving the location of thePBCH in NR systems (such as the cellular telecommunication system 1shown in FIG. 1). Moreover, FIG. 8 illustrates a possible (global) RBGindexing for such NR systems.

After the UE 3 has decoded the RMSI and any information included in theRMSI (based on for example one of the techniques described withreference to FIGS. 5 and 6), the UE 3 immediately knows the location ofthe NR-PBCH within the network channel bandwidth as well as the size ofthe network channel bandwidth explicitly.

For example, the UE 3 may be informed about the location of the decodedNR-PBCH (and/or the detected SS block) within the network channelbandwidth via the RMSI by signalling the starting PRB index of thedecoded NR-PBCH using the PRB indexing of the wider channel bandwidth.Effectively, the indication of the starting PRB index of the decodedNR-PBCH serves as an indication of an offset for the NR-PBCH from thefirst PRB of the system bandwidth (i.e. the PRB having index ‘0’), fromwhich the UE 3 is able to work out the location of the first PRB (andhence any other PRB) of the system bandwidth based on the applicablesubcarrier spacing/numerology.

This approach is generally illustrated in FIG. 7. In this example shown,the starting PRB (or offset) of the RMSI (or the starting PRB of thePBCH, when the RMSI is confined within the PBCH or it extends upwardsonly) has a PRB index ‘11’. Thus, in this example, the value ‘1’ may beincluded in the RMSI (e.g. in an appropriate information elementthereof). This beneficially allows the base station 5 to provide theNR-PBCH (and the SS block and/or RMSI) anywhere within its associatedsystem bandwidth (not only in the centre portion) and may in turn allowgreater flexibility for providing multiple CCs within the systembandwidth.

The UE 3 is configured to take the received PRB information (signalledvia the RMSI) as a reference point for determining the global PRBindexing within the network channel bandwidth. When the UE 3 knows theglobal PRB indexing based on the reference point, it can also work outthe number of RBGs within the network channel bandwidth. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 8, the RBGs may be indexed in the order ofincreasing frequency-domain (i.e. staring from the lowest frequency) fora given subcarrier spacing/numerology.

Modifications and Alternatives

A number of detailed example embodiments have been described above. Asthose skilled in the art will appreciate, a number of modifications andalternatives can be made to the above example embodiments whilst stillbenefiting from the inventions embodied therein. By way of illustrationonly a number of these alternatives and modifications will now bedescribed.

It is assumed in the above examples that the PBCH and RMSI are usingsame numerologies (i.e. the same subcarrier spacing and CP length).However, if there are different numerologies, the numerologies maypreferably be aligned from the centre of the PBCH bandwidth so that theamount of PRBs used for the RMSI on both sides is equal before expandingthe RMSI bandwidth. Effectively, this means that the PRB boundary fordifferent numerologies is always aligned from the centre of the PBCHbandwidth. As agreed in RAN1, alignment means that if the subcarriers ina PRB are numbered from ‘0’ to ‘11’, for a given SCS F0, then subcarrier‘0’ always coincides with a subcarrier ‘0’ of all SCS of order less thanF0.

TABLE 1 example numerologies Suboarrier spacing (SCS) 15 kHz 75kHz 375kHz Sampling clock rate (MHz) 30.72 153.6 768 OFDM symbol duration, noCP (us) 66.67 13.33 2.67 CP duration (us) 4.7 0.95 0.19 CP overhead (%)7 7 7 Symbols per TTI 14 14 35 TTI duration (ms) 1 0.2 0 Frame duration(ms) 10 10 10

in the above example embodiments, a number of software modules weredescribed for implementing the user equipment 3 and base station 5. Asthose skilled will appreciate, such software modules may be provided incompiled or un-compiled form and may be supplied to the correspondinghardware as a signal over a computer network, or on a recording medium.Further, the functionality performed by part or all of this software maybe performed using one or more dedicated hardware circuits. However, theuse of software modules is preferred as it facilitates the updating ofthe corresponding hardware in order to update its functionality.Similarly, although the above example embodiments employed transceivercircuitry, at least some of the functionality of the transceivercircuitry can be performed by software.

The functionality of the user equipment 3 and base station 5 willtypically be implemented using one or computer processing apparatushaving one or more hardware computer processors programmed usingappropriate software instructions to provide the required functionality.It will be appreciated that all or part of this functionality may beimplemented in hardware as dedicated circuitry for example using one ormore dedicated integrated circuits such as an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC) or the like.

It will be appreciated that the controllers referred to in thedescription of the UE 3, and base station 5 may comprise any suitablecontroller such as, for example an analogue or digital controller. Eachcontroller may comprise any suitable form of processing circuitryincluding (but not limited to), for example: one or more hardwareimplemented computer processors; microprocessors; central processingunits (CPUs); arithmetic logic units (ALUs); input/output (IO) circuits;internal memories/caches (program and/or data); processing registers;communication buses (e.g. control, data and/or address buses); directmemory access (DMA) functions; hardware or software implementedcounters, pointers and/or timers; and/or the like.

Whilst the base station 5 has been described in terms of a gNB it may beany suitable base station including a base station in which thefunctionality of a gNB may be split between one or more distributedunits (DUs) and a central unit (CU) with a CU typically performinghigher level functions and communication with the next generation coreand with the DU performing lower level functions and communication overan air interface with user equipment (UE) in the vicinity (i.e. in acell operated by the gNB).

In the above example embodiments, the base station uses a 3GPP radiocommunications (radio access) technology to communicate with the mobiledevice. However, any other radio communications technology (i.e. WLAN,Wi-Fi, WiMAX, Bluetooth, etc.) can be used between the base station andthe mobile device in accordance with the above example embodiments.

Items of user equipment might include, for example, communicationdevices such as mobile telephones, smartphones, user equipment, personaldigital assistants, laptop/tablet computers, web browsers, e-bookreaders and/or the like. Such mobile (or even generally stationary)devices are typically operated by a user, although it is also possibleto connect so-called ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) devices and similarmachine-type communication (MTC) devices to the network. For simplicity,the present application refers to mobile devices (or UEs) in thedescription but it will be appreciated that the technology described canbe implemented on any communication devices (mobile and/or generallystationary) that can connect to a communications network forsending/receiving data, regardless of whether such communication devicesare controlled by human input or software instructions stored in memory.

It will be appreciated that the following modifications and alternativesare also possible (using the wording of the above described aspects ofthe invention):

The at least one further communication resource may be dependent on(e.g. confined within or overlaps with) the first set of at least onecommunication resource.

The information identifying an allocation may comprise at least one of:information identifying an index associated with a physical resourceblock (PRB); and a number of PRBs (e.g. an offset) representing adifference compared to the first set of at least one communicationresource. In this case, the PRBs within the first set of at least onecommunication resource may be indexed in order of increasingfrequency-domain. Preferably, the resource allocation may have agranularity of one PRB.

The minimum system information may comprise minimum parameters requiredto access one of a plurality of component carriers (CCs) associated withthe cell. In this case, the plurality of component carriers may compriseat least one wideband CC and/or at least one intra-band CC.

The first set of communication resources may comprise a predeterminedset of communication resources (which may be dependent on e.g. alocation of at least one synchronisation signal transmitted in the celland/or a numerology associated with the cell).

The minimum system information may comprise information identifying thelocation of the PBCH and/or the remaining minimum system information(RMSI) within the network channel bandwidth of the cell (e.g. an indexof a starting PRB of the PBCH/RMSI within the network channelbandwidth). In this case, the communication device may be configured todetermine a global PRB indexing within a network channel bandwidth basedon the received information identifying the location of the PBCH/RMSIwithin the network channel.

The communication apparatus may comprise a base station (e.g. a ‘gNB’)for a New Radio (NR) system, and the communication device may compriseuser equipment (UE) for a NR system.

Various other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the artand will not be described in further detail here.

The whole or part of the example embodiments disclosed above can bedescribed as, but not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

(Supplementary note 1) A method performed by communication apparatus ofa radio access network, RAN, of a telecommunication system, the methodcomprising:

controlling transmission of minimum system information comprisingminimum parameters required by a user equipment, UE, to access a cell ofthe telecommunication system, wherein the minimum system informationcomprises at least an initial part comprising part of said minimumsystem information and a remaining part comprising a remaining part ofthe minimum system information;

transmitting at least the initial part of the system information via aphysical broadcast channel, PBCH, using a first set of at least onecommunication resource;

transmitting information identifying an allocation of at least onefurther communication resource; and

transmitting at least the remaining part of the minimum systeminformation using the at least one further communication resourceidentified by the allocation.

(Supplementary note 2) The method according to Supplementary note 1,wherein the at least one further communication resource is dependent on(e.g. confined within or overlaps with) the first set of at least onecommunication resource.

(Supplementary note 3) The method according to Supplementary note 1 or2, wherein the information identifying an allocation comprises at leastone of: information identifying an index associated with a physicalresource block. PRB; and a number of PRBs (e.g. an offset) representinga difference compared to the first set of at least one communicationresource.

(Supplementary note 4) The method according to Supplementary note 3,wherein PRBs within the first set of at least one communication resourceare indexed in order of increasing frequency-domain.

(Supplementary note 5) The method according to any of Supplementarynotes 1 to 4, wherein the resource allocation has a granularity of onePRB.

(Supplementary note 6) The method according to any of Supplementarynotes 1 to 5, wherein the minimum system information comprises minimumparameters required to access one of a plurality of component carriers,CCs, associated with the cell.

(Supplementary note 7) The method according to Supplementary note 6,wherein the plurality of component carriers comprises at least onewideband CC and/or at least one intra-band CC.

(Supplementary note 8) The method according to any of Supplementarynotes 1 to 7, wherein the first set of communication resources comprisesa predetermined set of communication resources (e.g. dependent on alocation of at least one synchronisation signal transmitted in thecell/dependent on a numerology associated with the cell).

(Supplementary note 9) The method according to any of Supplementarynotes 1 to 8, wherein the minimum system information comprisesinformation identifying the location of the PBCH and/or the remainingpart of the minimum system information within the network channelbandwidth of the cell (e.g. an index of a starting PRB of the PBCH/RMSIwithin the network channel bandwidth).

(Supplementary note 10) The method according to any of Supplementarynotes 1 to 9, wherein the communication apparatus comprises a basestation (e.g. ‘gNB’) for a New Radio, NR, system.

(Supplementary note 11) A method performed by a communication device forobtaining minimum system information comprising minimum parametersrequired to access a cell of a radio access network. RAN, of thetelecommunication system, wherein the minimum system informationcomprises at least an initial part comprising part of said minimumsystem information and a remaining part comprising a remaining part ofthe minimum system information, the method comprising:

receiving at least the initial part of the system information via aphysical broadcast channel, PBCH, using a first set of at least onecommunication resource:

receiving information identifying an allocation of at least one furthercommunication resource; and

receiving at least the remaining part of the minimum system informationusing the at least one further communication resource identified by theallocation.

(Supplementary note 12) The method according to Supplementary note 11,wherein the minimum system information comprises information identifyingthe location of the PBCH and/or the remaining part of the minimum systeminformation within the network channel bandwidth of the cell (e.g. anindex of a starting PRB of the PBCH/RMSI).

(Supplementary note 13) The method according to Supplementary note 12,further comprising determining a global PRB indexing within a networkchannel bandwidth based on the received information identifying thelocation of the PBCH and/or the remaining part of the minimum systeminformation within the network channel bandwidth.

(Supplementary note 14) The method according to any of Supplementarynotes 11 to 13, wherein the communication device comprises userequipment. UE, for a New Radio, NR, system.

(Supplementary note 15) A method performed by communication apparatus ofa radio access network, RAN, of a telecommunication system, the methodcomprising:

transmitting minimum system information comprising minimum parametersrequired by a user equipment, UE, to access a cell of thetelecommunication system, wherein the minimum system informationcomprises at least an initial part comprising part of said minimumsystem information and a remaining part comprising remaining minimumsystem information, RMSI:

wherein the minimum system information comprises information identifyingthe location, within a network channel bandwidth of the cell, of atleast one of: a physical broadcast channel, PBCH; and the RMSI.

(Supplementary note 16) A method performed by a communication device ofa radio access network, RAN, of a telecommunication system, the methodcomprising:

receiving minimum system information comprising minimum parametersrequired to access a cell of the telecommunication system, wherein theminimum system information comprises at least an initial part comprisingpart of said minimum system information and a remaining part comprisingremaining minimum system information, RMSI;

wherein the minimum system information comprises information identifyingthe location, within a network channel bandwidth of the cell, of atleast one of: a physical broadcast channel, PBCH; and the RMSI.

(Supplementary note 17) Communication apparatus of a radio accessnetwork, RAN, of a telecommunication system, the communication apparatuscomprising:

means for controlling transmission of minimum system informationcomprising minimum parameters required by a user equipment, UE, toaccess a cell of the telecommunication system, wherein the minimumsystem information comprises at least an initial part comprising part ofsaid minimum system information and a remaining part comprising aremaining part of the minimum system information;

means for transmitting at least the initial part of the systeminformation via a physical broadcast channel, PBCH, using a first set ofat least one communication resource;

means for transmitting information identifying an allocation of at leastone further communication resource; and

means for transmitting at least the remaining part of the minimum systeminformation using the at least one further communication resourceidentified by the allocation.

(Supplementary note 18) A communication device comprising:

means for obtaining minimum system information comprising minimumparameters for accessing a cell of a radio access network, RAN, of thetelecommunication system, wherein the minimum system informationcomprises at least an initial part comprising part of said minimumsystem information and a remaining part comprising a remaining part ofthe minimum system information;

means for receiving at least the initial part of the system informationvia a physical broadcast channel. PBCH, using a first set of at leastone communication resource;

means for receiving information identifying an allocation of at leastone further communication resource; and

means for receiving at least the remaining part of the minimum systeminformation using the at least one further communication resourceidentified by the allocation.

(Supplementary note 19) Communication apparatus of a radio accessnetwork, RAN, of a telecommunication system, the communication apparatuscomprising:

means for transmitting minimum system information comprising minimumparameters required by a user equipment, UE, to access a cell of thetelecommunication system, wherein the minimum system informationcomprises at least an initial part comprising part of said minimumsystem information and a remaining part comprising a remaining part ofthe minimum system information;

wherein the minimum system information comprises information identifyingthe location, within a network channel bandwidth of the cell, of atleast one of: a physical broadcast channel, PBCH; and the RMSI.

(Supplementary note 20) A communication device of a radio accessnetwork, RAN, of a telecommunication system, the communication devicecomprising:

means for receiving minimum system information comprising minimumparameters required to access a cell of the telecommunication system,wherein the minimum system information comprises at least an initialpart comprising part of said minimum system information and a remainingpart comprising a remaining part of the minimum system information;

wherein the minimum system information comprises information identifyingthe location, within a network channel bandwidth of the cell, of atleast one of: a physical broadcast channel, PBCH; and the RMSI.

(Supplementary note 21) A system comprising the communication apparatusaccording to Supplementary note 17 or 19 and the communication deviceaccording to Supplementary note 18 or 20.

(Supplementary note 22) A computer program readable storage media havinginstructions stored thereon which are operable to program a programmableprocessor to carry out a method according to any of Supplementary notes1 to 16 or to program a suitably adapted computer to operate as thecommunication apparatus according to Supplementary note 17 or 19 or thecommunication device according to Supplementary note 18 or 20.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromUnited Kingdom patent application No. 1709679.3, filed on Jun. 16, 2017,the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety byreference.

1. A method performed by communication apparatus of a radio accessnetwork (RAN) of a telecommunication system, the method comprising:controlling transmission of minimum system information comprisingminimum parameters required by a user equipment (UE) for initial access,wherein the minimum system information comprises at least an initialpart comprising part of said minimum system information and a remainingpart comprising remaining minimum system information (RMSI);transmitting at least the initial part of the minimum system informationvia a physical broadcast channel (PBCH); transmitting, in the initialpart of the minimum system information, information identifying at leastone communication resource; and transmitting at least the RMSI using theat least one communication resource identified by the information. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one communicationresource is dependent on the PBCH.
 3. The method according to claim 1,wherein the initial part of the minimum system information and the RMSIare transmitted using separate downlink channels.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the RMSI is transmitted via a physicaldownlink shared channel (PDSCH).
 5. The method according to claim 1,wherein the initial part of the minimum system information comprises amaster information block (MIB) and the RMSI comprises a systeminformation block type 1 (SIB1).
 6. The method according to claim 1,wherein the information identifying the at least one communicationresource comprises at least one of: information identifying an indexassociated with a physical resource block (PRB); and a number of PRBsrepresenting a difference compared to at least one communicationresource of the PBCH.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein thePBCH comprises a plurality of PRBs that are indexed in order ofincreasing frequency-domain.
 8. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe at least one communication resource has a granularity of one PRB. 9.The method according to claim 1, wherein the minimum system informationcomprises minimum parameters required to access one of a plurality ofbandwidth parts associated with a cell.
 10. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the PBCH is transmitted over a predetermined set ofcommunication resources.
 11. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe minimum system information comprises information identifying alocation of the PBCH and/or the remaining part of the minimum systeminformation within a network channel bandwidth of a cell.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus comprises abase station for a New Radio (NR) system.
 13. A method performed by auser equipment (UE) for obtaining minimum system information comprisingminimum parameters required for initial access to a radio access network(RAN) of a telecommunication system, wherein the minimum systeminformation comprises at least an initial part comprising part of saidminimum system information and a remaining part comprising remainingminimum system information (RMSI), the method comprising: receiving atleast the initial part of the minimum system information via a physicalbroadcast channel (PBCH); receiving, in the initial part of the minimumsystem information, information identifying at least one communicationresource; and receiving at least the RMSI using the at least onecommunication resource identified by the information.
 14. Communicationapparatus of a radio access network (RAN) of a telecommunication system,the communication apparatus comprising: means for controllingtransmission of minimum system information comprising minimum parametersrequired by a user equipment (UE) for initial access, wherein theminimum system information comprises at least an initial part comprisingpart of said minimum system information and a remaining part comprisingremaining minimum system information (RMSI); means for transmitting atleast the initial part of the minimum system information via a physicalbroadcast channel (PBCH); means for transmitting, in the initial part ofthe minimum system information, information identifying at least onecommunication resource; and means for transmitting at least the RMSIusing the at least one communication resource identified by theinformation.
 15. A user equipment (UE) comprising: means for obtainingminimum system information comprising minimum parameters for initialaccess to a radio access network (RAN) of a telecommunication system,wherein the minimum system information comprises at least an initialpart comprising part of said minimum system information and a remainingpart comprising remaining minimum system information (RMSI); means forreceiving at least the initial part of the minimum system informationvia a physical broadcast channel (PBCH); means for receiving informationidentifying at least one communication resource; and means for receivingat least the RMSI using the at least one communication resourceidentified by the information.
 16. (canceled)
 17. (canceled)